WHAT IS GINSENG? 

AN ACCOUNT OF THE HISTORY ANO 
CULTIVATION OF GINSENG 



SB 




BY 

C. M. ROOT 

OMAHA, MEB. 



COPYRlGViT I905. 



Class 




Copyright ]J^ 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



WHAT IS GINSENG? 

AN ACCOUNT OF THE HISTORY AND 
CULTIVATION OF GINSENG 




Ginseng plant with cluster of berries. 
BY 

C. M. ROOT, 

OMAHA. NEB. 

OOPYRIGHX 1905. 



LlBRftRYof OUNSRfcSS 
fwu Gcpies rteceiveu 

FEB 21 1905 

Oepynem tntry 

iiL'-tSS a^ ;\Xc. NOi 
: COPY S. 

i.^^. . == 



What is Ginseng? 

Ginseng is a Chinese word meaning man shape, from 
the fancied resemblence of the root to the body of a man. 
The loot when growing wild has a resemblence of the 
headless trunk and limbs of a man. It is a plant of slow 
development. The first year it is little more than a 
straight rootlet with a tiny stalk some three inches high 
bearing two leaves : The second year it grows a stem five 
inches high and has three leaf stalks «ach bearing 5 serrated 
leaves somewhat resembling strawberry leaves, but they 
are longer and narrower and slightly glaucous. 

The third year there will be from 10 to 15 leaves and 
the plant will commence to bear seed. About the first of 
July there appears on a stem that is shot up from the end 
of the stalk a cluster of pale yellow flowers with a greenish 
tinge each flower if pollenized will turn to a green berry 
will continue to grow for 6 weeks, when it turns red and 
after a short time of ripening it will be ready to pluck. 
The number of berries in a cluster varies according to the 
complete or incomplete polenization of the flower at the 
time of blossoming. Sometimes there are no more than 
fifteen seeds, instances are recorded where over 200 seeds 
have been taken from a single cluster; 40 to 50 seeds to a 
plant may be taken as the average yield when the plant is 
cultivated. I would advise that bees and insects have 
free access to the plants at the time of blossoming, they 
will increase the yield of seed. 



Ginseng belongs to the same family as the parsnip^ 
carrot and celery. Its value is in its root. The Chinese 
have raised it for hundreds of years. So great was the 
demand for it that the home supply became exhausted 
some 200 years ago. A Jesuit Missionary, Father Jartony, 
gave a description of the plant and sent samples of the 
root to Father Lafitan, who was a missionary among the 
Indians of Canada. Father Lafitan began to search for 
it in the woods of Canada and soon found plants that had 
roots resembling those from China. They tasted like 
them and seemed to haye the same medicinal qualities. 

The French, who then controlled Canada, gathered it 
for export. The dried root found a ready market in China 
at good prices. 

The exporters only paid 40 cents a pound for it 
delivered in Montreal and sold it for $10 a pound in China. 
A French company who had a concession from the home 
government assumed control of the gathering and export 
of the article; from |2.o0 a pound they raised the price to 
$10. This so stimulated the gathering that any kind of a 
ginseng root was dug and often sent with much dirt to 
China. The result was that the Chinese refused to buy it, 
and the ginseng trade became insignificant. 

Sometime after this the people of the American 
colonies found ginseng growing in the woods. They dug 
it and the trade with China was resumed, and ginseng 
became a staple article of export. As the new west was 
opened up it was found that it grew in all the states east 
of the Rocky Mountains. 



Cultivated G-inseng. 

The Imparial government of China many years ago 
commenced cultivating ginseng, and now has extensive 
gardens surrounded with a high screen. It is carefully 
watched and its products after providing for the wants of 
the Imperial family are sold for fabulous prices; from 
$150 to $200 a pound. The Imperial ginseng gardens 
furnish quite a revenue to the government. 

What the Chinese government was doing a number 
of years ago some wideawake Americans conceived that 
they could do. Some of these pioneers have been very 
successful. 

There have been many doubting Thomase's,who have 
declared that ginseng could not be grown to profit by 
cultivatian. The following clipped from the Joplin Times, 
a reputable paper, should set all doubts at rest, as it shows 
100 pounds of dried ginseng roots produced by cultivation 
on a small space of ground were sold for the remarkable 
price of $1250. 

"Capt. Douglas E. McDowell, proprietor of the 
McDowell Ginseng garden ol this city, shipped 100 lbs. 
of dry cultivated Ginseng roots to Swatow, China, this 
week for which he received in advance $12.50 per pound. 
This is the highest price he has ever received for a ship- 
ment, the price last fall being $10.00 per pound. At the 
time of this shipment he was compelled to refuse an order 
for 500 pounds at $11.00 per pound because he did not 
have the roots and was unable to get them. The industry 



_ 6 — 

IB SO young that very little of the cultivated product ii* 
on the market. 

Capt. McDowell is the largest grower of Ginseng in 
America and is one of the few dealing in the nursery stock 
who realy grows any. Nearly all others do a brokerage 
business only, purchasing their stock from others and from 
wild root diggers. In all his literature Capt. McDowell 
prints pictures of his garden. Being from Missouri, he 
**show8" the people. His method of cultivation differs 
from other growers. That he succeedi is evidenced by 
by the fact, that he today has thousands of plants over 
24 inches high, the tallest one being 31 inches. Three 
years ago writers on Ginseng placed the limit of growth 
at 25 inches. 

The McDowell garden, four miles south of the city^ 
is a beautiful sight this time of the year. 

The seeds are beginning to get ripe. As they get 
ripe the berries, being about the size of a pea and contain- 
ing two seeds, turn a bright red. The deep green plant 
with a cluster of berries make a beautiful contrast. The 
plants have an average of about 40 berries though many 
run over 100. There is one plant in the garden which 
last year produced 304 seeds. The indications are that it 
will produce a large number this year. At 1^ cents per 
seed, this is a valuable plant. From one section of the 
garden which contains by itself 5000 five year old plants 
Capt. McDowell expects this year over 300,000 seeds. This 
is an average of 60 seeds to (he plant. 



Prophalytic and stimulating 
powers of G-inseng, 

The great Chinese nation of more than 400,000,000 
who outnumber the entire Caucasian race universally 
use Ginseng. 

Physicians in this country and Europe strive to 
belittle the virtues and remedial efficiency of Ginseng. 
They are cither woefully mistaken or ignorant in their 
judgment. 

In the early days of American settlement Ginseng 
wa« found in most of the wooded tracts of the country 
and was dug and used as a domestic remedy. The writer 
lately conversed with an aged man who was born in York 
state and whose parents emigrated to that state when it 
was an unbroken wilderness. This man in his boyhood 
days helped his parenti hew out a home from the forest. 
He remembers well, that his mother every summer had an 
abundant store of Ginseng dug from the woods, and laid 
up particularly for use in the spring. He says, she used 
to powder it and mix it with spirits and give each member 
of the family a tablespoonfuU of the mixture from one to 
three times a day. He remembers how he used to come 
home tired after a strenuous day put in felling the tall 
timber, and his mother would give him a spoonful! of the 
ginseng mixture, and he would feel rested. He says it 
was in common use as a stimulant and nerye rester among 
the early settlers 60 years ago. 

Ginseng is coming to the front on its own merits and 
will surely be recognized as one of the great stimulents of 



tlie world taking its place alongside witK tobacco, tea, 
coffee and cocoa. 

In its way it is superior to any of those mentioned 
from the fact, that there is absolutely no reaction from 
the stimulus that it creates. 

The desire of stimulants is inherent in humanity, and 
in spite of all the efforts of reformers, will continue until 
the last member of the genus homo has closed his eyes 
and parts with his breath; until the recording angel pro- 
claims that time has passed into oblivion, ginseng will be 
used to sooth his sorrows, rest his tired frame, and sti- 
mulate him to carry on the arduous duties of life. 

The Caucasian race is continually boasting its superi- 
ority over the Mongolian. It is now receiving a rude 
shock on the Manchurian plains and in Chinese and 
Japanese Seas. 

No one race has all the world's Knowledge and we as 
members of the Caucasian race should be cosmopolitan 
enough to acknowledge that some good things come out 
the Orient, among them is the use of ginseng. Ginseng to 
the common people is what tobacco is to us and its use is 
well nigh as universal. 

When Americans stop using tobacco then will the 
Chinese stop using ginseng. 

Along with tea, ginseng has become a universal sti- 
mulent with the Chinese. 

It is a universal panacea for all ills. And when we 
consider its stimulating qualities there is reason in this, 
as we know that mental or physical stimulus is necessary to 
recover from di8ea8e;butwhenbothare combined in ginseng 



— 9 — 

as used by the Chinese its effect is little short of 
marvelous. Ginseng is a drug that has an immediate 
effect in this particular it resembles opium, but has none 
of its reactionary effects. 

Ginseng exalts the mind and is a foe to pessemism. 
It is an antidote for the blues, and has a pleasing ffeect 
on the mental vision. It does not increase the heart action 
and is a wonderful controler of the nerve centers. It 
calms the brain and rests the tired body; in this way it 
adds much to the sum of human happiness in direct 
opposition to the use of alchoholic stimulants. While it 
may not be as powerful as some drugs it has sufficient 
efficiency when mixed with faith to alleviate many of the 
diseases and pains of humanitywhethercaused by excessive 
labor or malaction of the bodily organs. 

When the American public comes to consider these 
facts they will conclude that the claim of those who have 
begun the artificial cultivation of ginseng in this country 
is no fancy of the passing hour, but rather an enduring 
fact as substantially backed as the hundreds of millions of 
<;apital interested in the growing and sale of tobacco. The 
demand is as sure and will endure as long. 



— 10 — 

Cultivation of Ginseng. 

While ginseng is not the easiest crop to raise there 
are other crops harder to raise. It is no harder to raise a 
crop of ginseng than to raise a crop of tobacco, but the 
skill to raise the one would not raise the other. 

There are certain well defined principles that must be 
followed to raise a crop of tobacco ; as there are some who 
attempt to raise a crop of tobacco and fail. A few who 
have attempted to raise ginseng have failed because they 
either did not know the conditions necessary for success, 
or knowing the conditions failed to follow them. It will 
always be so when a new crop is introduced to the public. 
The great majority of those who have attempted the 
cultivation of ginseng have been succesful. 

There are features connected with ginseng culture 
that make it better than other crops. One is that when a 
bed is once started it requires little attention. Another 
feature is that one crop will give so large money returns. 
Still another it does not require a quarter section of land 
to yield a living. The profits of ginseng will be discussed 
in another place in this book, but I will merely allude to 
them here. A claim of $50,000 per acre has been made 
by its most enthusiastic advocates, and computing that it 
takes 5 years to secure a marketable root from seed, and 
that a rotation of one fifth of the field has been secured to 
mature each year; then a yearly income of $10,000 per 
year would be secured. 



— 11 — 

But to be safe, let us cut this in two and still there 
would be $5,000 a year. 

How many quarter sections will match this? 

Those who already have farms and families of boy» 
can put in an acre of ginseng for each boy, and so keep 
the children and grandchildren on the old homestead. 

The main work in cultivation, is done in the preparat- 
ion and starting the seed. The mulching of the beds 
every year takes the place of cultivation as each years^ 
mulch rots, it makes a large amount of humus that keeps 
the ground cool and moist. Land that is intended for 
ginseng ground should be free from weed seed. It should 
be put in some bed crop for a year and not a weed allowed 
to go to seed. Ginseng may be grown in timber land. 
This is the way it grows naturaly. It is often found under 
climbing vines where the sun peeps but once a day. This 
matter of shade is a vital one in growing ginseng. If we 
do not have natural shade we must provide artificial. There 
has been much discussion regarding the best height for 
artificial shelter. Some have contended that 4 or 5 feet was 
high enough, but the most successful growers, and those who 
have been the longest in the business provide shelters 8 to 
10 feet high. There is a distinct advantage in these 
shelters. They tend to keep the air cooler and reflect the 
sun less than the 5 and 6 feet shelters. 

The high shelters are more pleasant to walk and work 

under. Tall people are not bumping their heads, and do 

not acquire headaches so noticeable under low shelters. 

With the 24 feet wide shed a row of posts must be 

set in the center. It makes little difference whether they 



— 12 — 

come in the bed or alley a little better in the bed. 12 feet 
scantling are used for cross pieces 4 feet apart to hold the 
mats of lath. They are best made in the form of lath 
wired together as is done for lath fence. Quick growing 
vines like the velvet bean or wild cucumbers may also be 
used as shelter. 

The best posts are cedar either red or white. A ten 
foot post two and one half feet in the ground will give 
seven and one half feet in the clear. If you wish to plan 
on a large scale make a shed 24 feet wide and as long as 
convenient. Lay off first a bed on the outside 3 feet wide 
then an alley 2 feet wide then a bed 6 feet wide then 
another 2 feet alley and then another 6 feet bed one more 
2 feet alley finishing with a 3 feet bed. The mats are 
made at home by stapeling four feet lath to No. 8 wire. 
The laths to have a space of one half inch between them. 

Screens prepared in this way can be quickly put on 
and quickly removed. They may be fastened on the cross 
pieces by tightly nailing, or may be riveted to the cross 
pieces with baling wire. Those who live in a timber 
country and wish to get up a cheap shelter can use posts 
from the timber. Put poles at sides and center of shed 
than stretch wires two feet apart and cover with brush tied 
down to keep from blowing off. I suppose the brush 
would have to be renewed every 2 years. 

It is well in starting a ginseng garden to plan for a 
permanent shade. Have durable posts, let the scantling 
be of durable lumber, oak in the north and cypress in the 
south, and let the construction be of the best. All wood 



— 13 — 

work may be painted. The profits of the business will 
justify any reasonable outlay. 

Ginseng above all plants that we know must have 
a loose soil. The soil must not only be loose on top but 
must be friable as low down as the roots penetrate. For 
this reason it must be raised in beds, where no foot ever 
presses. The tracking must all be done in the allies. 

Ginseng will not bear the tread of man or beast. It 
has been noted in forests where ginseng was plentiful that 
when cattle began to graze in the forest that the ginseng 
died out. 

In experiments by Prof. Howard at Columbia, Mo. 
for the state of Missouri he found that ginseng grown in 
hard clay ground did not increase in size in 5 years 
whereas when it was grown in loose ground it grows from 
-^ inch in size to one inch in diameter in 5 years. 

Regarding the space l.etween growing ginseng roots. 
It will grow as close as parsnips or carrots, and like them 
it will grow larger if given space. 

Just how much space depends somewhat on the rich- 
ness of the ground. Some growers plant and grow it 6x6 
inches. In that case 4 plants would grow on every square 
foot of land giving more than 160,000 plants to the acre. 
I am, however, of the opinion that 8x8 inches is prefer- 
able giving 80,000 plants to an acre of beds. 

My reasons are that every plant that lias roots similar 
to ginseng has fibrous roots to draw nourishment to the 
fleshy root, and they extend at least 4 inches in every 
direction from the main root and will find more nourish- 
ment for the plant than when they cross and overlap one 



— 14 — 

another fighting for substance to build up the parent root. 
When several plants come up together as they will in a 
wild state — when a bunch of seeds drop in one place or 
two, usually one of the plants, takes the lead and in a few 
years smother out the rest if three or more of the plants 
survive. They develops small roots hardly worth digging. 

We think this is a conclusive argument against close 
planting. Buyers will give a higher price per bunch for 
large roots, if grown smooth, than for small ones. 

The seed from large healthy plants will yield large 
roots. I am inclined to the belief that the tonnage to the 
acre can be increased by the more open planting. 

The growth of ginseng may be stimulated by the us© 
of commercial fertilizers, and it is such a profitable crop 
that no expense should be spared in hastening iti growth 
and maturity. Its season of growth is short, commencing 
in May and ending in August. I would suggest that 
nitrate of soda and bone dust be used. 



IV — 




e.—a. yearling ploflt. f.^h. 2 year old plant, 
c. 3 year old plattt. d, 4 year old plant ready 
for market I 



— 18 — 

The American ginseng is acceptable to the China 
trade. Those who buy Japanese seed will be disapointed 
in the results, although it is offered cheaper than the 
Chinese. Anyone offering ginseng seed or plants cheaper 
than a list of prices that is given in another part of this 
book can hardly have the genuine article. Right here let 
me say that I have neither seed nor plants for sale. 



— 19 — 

Planting G-inseng. 

I suppose that you have one or two year old plants 
for they are the only really profitable ones to plant. 
Ginseng is like Franklins proverb of the roving family 
<'We never Knew an oft removed treeorfamily to thriving 
be" so when ginseng is once established it likes to stay 
there all its life. Plants should be set with a dibble that 
will make the hole as deep as, say an inch deeper than the 
length of the root. The soil should be moist — not wet 
and should be firmly pressed about the plant covering the 
crown one inch. 

Ginseng may be planted or rather transplanted as soon 
as the leaves are dried in the fall. This will be by the 20. 
of September, and planting may be continued until the 
ground freezes. Planting may be resumed as soon as the 
ground thaws in the spring and be continued until the 
plants start. Very few plants are lost in transplanting as 
they are set in the shade of the screen. It might be well 
to say, here, that the side of the shed must be screened as 
well as the top. 



— 20 — 

A large income from little ground. 

When once a ginseng garden or plantation is 
established there is no crop that we know of grown in 
open air without the aid of artificial heat that will giveag 
large returns as ginseng. The statements of those who 
have plants and seeds to sell seem fabulous, and until one 
has a full understanding of ginseng, its propogation and 
the large demand for it at what seems extraordinary 
prices, cannot credit their sober senses with its possibilities* 

As I have neither seed nor plants to sell, I will in 
this little book give a statement of what has actually been 
accomplished. 

Mr. George Stanton, a ginseng grower of New York, 
made the following report to the Agricultural Department 
at Washington: 

*'In 1897, from 8 1-2 beds, 3x16 feet each, 2270 
roots, weight 126 2-16 pounds, were taken; 1505 taken 
out for replanting, weight 29 15-16 pounds, leaving 96 
pounds to be dried, which made 32 pounds dry, value 
$165.00. There were also 1505 seedling roots weight 
18 1-2 pounds. Had the entire product of marketable 
roots from 18 beds — 320 pounds — been dried, it would 
have made 106 pounds dry, which would have sold for 
$575.00 This will do very well with 4^ squar*^ rods of 
ground with five years cultivation. I do not need to add 
the value of the seed produced during cultivation or tl:^ 
value of 4,617 seedling roots. " 

On account of the increased prices thii year the above 
would have brought more than $1000. 



— 21 — 

One square rod of ground will contain 500 roots set 
7x8 inches from four roots to the pound will give 125 
pounds of green ginseng that will give 50 pounds of dried 
roots, and this at $6 per pound gives $300 income from 
squa.e rod of ground. True it has taken 5 years to 
accomplish this but did it not pay to wait. For years to 
come there will be an active demand for all the reliable 
seed that can be grown. In the five years these 500 plants 
would each produce 5,000 seeds that at 1 1-2 cents a seed 
would give a yearly income of $75. This feature of the 
industry for years to come will make a large and immediate 
income from growing ginseng. Those who start in the 
business now have a good outlook for selling their seed 
for the next five years; the time when the roots will be 
ready for the market. 

This is a partial statement of the profits of less than 
an acre of ginseng: 

Mr. G. F. Millard, a Missouri man, commenced to 
grow ginseng in 1893. Of his efforts the St. Louis Post 
Dispatch, in its issue of September 29. 1901, says: 

<*The success that has attended his efforts may be 
understood when it is known that his profits for the sixth 
year were $25,000 and that the returns for 1900 and 1901 

are much in ex'*'': .^xo. Two years ago he sold to a 

single nurseryman in New York seed and roots to the 
value of $16,000." 

It must be remembered, that up to 1901 Mr. Millard's 
Ginseng garden did not cover one acre of ground. 

There is a class of people in our country that have a 



_ 22 — 

small income, and some leisure time. Ginseng raising is 
admirably adapted for this class. 

Many of these live in our large cities and towns 
where they could get a small piece of ground from a town 
lot up to an acre; and on this by putting in their leisure 
time caring for ginseng might not only be enjoying a 
comfortable income, but be laying up a competence for old 
age. Another class live on farms. As we have stated 
ginseng culture will keep families together. When the 
boys and girls grow up instead of going to cities or to a 
new country an acre deeded to each and put in ginseng 
will enable each boy and girl to live in comfort and have a 
snug bank account of their own. 



— 23 — 

The Daughters Pin Money. 

This was the subject discussed recently before a 
farmer's institute by a farmers daughter. The idea was 
brought out that the daughter should be given a chance 
to make spending money as well as the son. The various 
ways of making a small amount of money by the girls 
was discussed quite lengthy, poultry raising was one, but 
this enterprise has been worn out. Dairying was suggested 
but this would prove to be a drudgery. It was also 
suggested that a girl might cut and rake hay, plow, plant 
and cultivate corn, then she would receive the same con- 
sideration as her brother. But what farmer or what 
father would like to see his daughter doing work of this 
kind, although there is no occupation more healthful than 
working in the open air. 

Starting plants in hotbeds for sale, and fruit growing, 
raisingpopcorn and a number of other ways were mentioned, 
but there is one way that was completely overlooked. We 
presume the ommision was made from the lack of 
knowledge of the writer for this industry would have been 
her best point. The ommission was the cultivation of 
ginseng. This is one of the most remarkable money- 
makers in the whole catagory of plant.hood, there can be 
more made to the square rod of ground by growing 
Ginseng than can be made to the square acre by growing 
corn, wheat or cabbage or any other vegetable or cereal 
with less than ^one-third the labor and no more expense for 
the rod than, for the acre. 



— 24 — 

Ginseng is the most valuable crop in the world. More 
money may be made from a few square rods of ground 
than from the average farm, and with onetenth of the labor. 

Boys do not like to stay on the farm. Buy one of the 
tlO ginseng '*Lot8 of plants and seeds" advertised, give the 
boys a few rods of land and time to tend it a see how it 
will keep them on the farm. The money they will get for 
this will be a test of character. Some will hoard ap their 
money. Some will put it on interest in the Savings Bank. 
Some will dicker and trade with it. Some will buy better 
clothes. Some will take it to pay expenses at school. 
Some will spend it foolishly, this class would not stay at 
home anyway. 

A woman left a widow with a family of children and 
a small farm can rent her farm. No one can put money 
into charity to better advantage than to give her enough 
to start in ginseng. Many widows, thanks to the providence 
of their husbands in keeping up their insurance in a frater- 
nal order, can keep and increase the nest egg left them by 
raising ginseng 

The great class of men who because they have passed 
the dead line and see younger men occupying their places 
can raise ginseng and have an income that the younger 
man who has taken his place may well envy. 

He need uo longer be a siave of the time keeper, but 
with light labor and congenial surroundings pass his old 
age in ease and comfort. 



— 25 



Gimseng facts little known. 

Corea, the land that has now apparently passed to the 
control of the Island Empire of Japan, has been in the 
source of the main supply of China for Ginseng roots. 
When China thinks about Corea it is not about its political 
status, its queer customs or its strategetical importance to 
China, but the ginseng that comes from Corean mountains- 

The mere mention of Coren; which is the ordinary 
name for all that tract of land around the Yellow Sea and 
corresponds and is another name for Corea, brings to the 
thoughts of a Mandarin in Canton or Peking. Not so 
much the war between Russia and Japan, nor even the 
future destiny of Seoul, nor yet of its people dressed all in 
white, nor of the small white oxen that draw carts laden 
with merchandise nor anything Corean save that wonderful 
plant ginseng. This root is the foundation of all the 
commercial dealings between China and <*The land of the 
Morning '. The people of the west cannot understand 
this concentration of interest. 

To judge the value in which China holds ginseng 
you should see a mandarin of high degree opening his 
cansignment of new roots from Sondo the town of Corea 
in and around which it is principally cultivated. No gold 
dust, no diamonds in the rough, nor treasures of any kind 
were packed more carefully than this precious root. 

Where the consignment is large it will come in a long 
shallow wicker basket The basket will be covered with 
a waterproof material of closely woven silk. The Imperial 



— 26 — 

seal will be on it. The custom house marks a register 
number. 

The mandarin opens it very carefully. First comes a 
layer of scented wood dust mingled with fluffy cotton or 
the waste of silk cocoons. This layer is removed and now 
appears a layer of little packets of white and gold papers. 
Each packet coctains a small quantity at unslaked lime, to^ 
avoid any moisture which might injure the root. These 
packets of lime lie both above and below the ginseng. 

The last act in unsealing the precious root for which 
all this preparatian has been made is removing the last 
envelope of embroideried silk or of crimson and gold fish 
skin. When the real thing is reached it is found to be a 
small dried object 4 or 5 inches in length with a glistening^ 
surface something like dull amber, that rudely resembles 
in miniature the headless body of a man. 

In Corea it grows in the glens and along the slopes 
of the Kang-ge mountains north of the Songdo. It has 
become so scarce even here in its wild state, that it is like 
a four leaf clover to find a plant. 

The Coreans say, that only persons of blameless life 
and purity of heart can so much as see where the ginseng 
shoots upward its few stalks covered with pale leaves. 
There is a common tradition that when it is taken from 
the earth it utters a low musical cry like the wail of a lost 
spirit, and it must be quickly wrapped up or its virtue 
and strength will depart to i^^urn no more. 

The extreme care in the preparation of ginseng for 
the market among the Coreans may >^ell be imitated by 
the American growers. 



— 27 — 

The American public has been afflicted with many^ 
humbugs and impractical ideas, and we are sorry to say, 
that many of them were so plausible, that persons of good 
judgement put money in them, that they never got back. 
In calculating the possibilities of growing ginseng in 
America, we may have our faith in its final results 
strengthened by reviewing what California has done in 
supplying the country with oranges, raisins and prunes. 
Within the memory of most of our readers, this 
country depended on foreign countries for its supply. Now 
the imports of these articles are insignificant and they are 
becoming articles of export. 

With an increasing supply of ginseng it is not likely 
that the present high price could be always maintained, 
but it has been shown that at 11.00 a pound it is more 
profitable than most crops. It would be many years, if 
ever, before the price would decline to this low level and 
those who start plantations now will reap fortunes before 
the price declines. By that time the demand will undoubt- 
edly increase. The Americans will find out its virtues. 
The opening of China to the commerce of the world will 
break the Chinese monopoly, and for the same money her 
400,000,000 now pay three or four times the amount now 
bought will be sold and used. 

How this demand would increase with reasonable 
prices may be inferred by a statement of a reliable Chinese. 
Ging Toy, of Joplin, Missouri. 

*'I use about a pound of ginseng every month. I pay 
$8.50 a pound. I make a tea of it and drink it every 
morning. Nearly all of my countrymen in America use 



— 28 — 

it, at least those that I know. Ginseng keeps us well." 

Mrs. Jen Hon Yee of St. Louis says: 

"Every good housewife in China keeps Ginseng root 
in the house. It costs a great deal, but it is used in small 
quantities and an ounce of it lasts a long time. 

Ginseng tea is a common drink in China. Almost 
everybody drinks it. It is made by boiling fine cuttings 
of Ginseng in water. The tea is good for all sickness, 
and it keeps disease away. Some of the rich people flavor 
their meat with Ginseng. Only the rich can afford to do 
this rsgularly. The root gives the meat a flavor the 
Chinese people like. Everybody in China is familiar with 
Ginseng. It is the oldest medicine we haye." 



— 29 — 

Forest Culture, 

While the intensive culture of ginseng is the surest 
way to realize profits; those who have cheap forest land 
especially what are known as cut over lands, where the 
large timber, has been cut off leaving the smaller trees 
and underbrush could cheaply grow ginseng. It would 
be wise to fence in a tract of this land with woven wire 
fence and experiment in raising ginseng in the natural 
shade. 

This can be done by either planting the seed under 
the shade of small trees or the plants. 

The Ginseng gardens at Songdo, Corea and the 
Imperial Parks of China are said to have many trees that 
shade the Ginseng. 

All weeds and perennial plants must be eradicated to 
give the Ginseng full swing. The ground must be spaded 
or lightly turned with a plow and must be either raked or 
planked, a covering of forest leaves should be put on. 
The leaves should be partly decayed to keep from blowing. 
As weeds shoot up through the mulch they should 
be pulled. 

If the mulch gets very dry it should be watered, but 
unless the weather is very dry this will not be necessary 
as the mulch and shade will hold the moisture a long time. 
It seems to me that in these cheap forest lands there is a 
grand opening for growing ginseng. 

Some of the pine lands are doubtless too sandy to 
grow Ginseng to a markatable size, but on all these tracts 



— 30 — 

there are many ravines and flats that would grow choice 
ginseng. 

Most hard wood lands will grow ginseng, the only 
exception being those that are too cold as ginseng requires 
a warm rich soil. In native woods beech, maple, hickory, 
oak, walnut and butternut abound, where ginseng grows. 
It would seem to me that ginseng culture would be more 
successful where native timber grows. But it is so slow 
in growth, that quick growing trees planted at the same 
time as ginseng would give ample shade before the roots 
matured, meantime temporary shelter could be given the 
young plants. 

To give some idea of the profit of ginseng growers 
where young plants and seeds are grown, I append a price 
list of Joplin firms: 

PRICE LIST. 

One year old roots, per 100 $ 9.50 

One year old roots, per 1000 87.50 

Two year old roots, per 100 15.00 

Two year old roots, per 1000 120.00 

Three year old roots, per 100 25.00 

Three year old plants, per 1000 220.00 

Seeds, per 1000 11.50 

"Stratified" Seed, per 1000 17.50 



— 31 — 

Cultivated G-inseng Superior. 

The cultivation of ginseng has gone far enough in 
this country to show that the roots produced by cultivation 
are much better and will bring higher prices than the 
ginseng dug in the woods. 

Cultivation has the advantage of an even distribution 
of the plants in the bed. Every individual plant having 
its own space and an equal chance for developement. 
Fertilizers can be applied and the growth of the plants 
stimulated. In a dry time it can be irrigated and the 
forces of nature kept at work throughout the season. 

The superiority of the cultivated over the wild ginseng 
is shown in the prices the McDowell gardens received for 
their surplus, which was 112.50 a pound as against |6 
paid for the best wild in the St. Louis market. 

The cultivated ginseng raised in the Songdo Gardens 
of Corea and that received in the Imperial Chinese Parks 
brought still higher prices. 

The agricultural Department at Washington gives 
the following table, showing the exports of Ginseng, and 
the price per pound, from 1901 the latest official figures 
obtainable : 



Year 


Pounds 


Average 
Price per lb. 


Total Value 
Yeart Export. 


1858 


366,052 


$0.52 


$193,796 


1868 


370,066 


1.02 


380,454 


1878 


421,395 


1.17 


497,247 


1888 


308,365 


2.13 


657,358 


1889 


271,228 


2.33 


634,091 



32 



Year 


Pounds 


Average 
Price par lb. 


Total value 
Year's Export. 


1890 


223,113 


2.71 


605,233 


1891 


283,000 


3.39 


959,998 


1892 


228,916 


3.51 


803,529 


1893 


251,205 


3.15 


792,928 


1894 


194,564 


3.18 


619,114 


1895 


233,236 


3.54 


826,713 


1896 


199,436 


3.86 


770,673 


1897 


197,573 


4.71 


846,686 


1898 


174,063 


3.66 


638,446 


1899 


196,196 


3.98 


782,540 


1900 


160,101 


5.20 


833,710 


1901 


149,069 


5.38 


801,672 



It will be noticed that the supply has gradually- 
decreased and the price has gradually increased. 

Following is a special dispatch that appeared in the 
St, Louis Globe-Democrat under date of January 23. 1904. 

Columbia, Mo., January 22. — Prof. W. L. Howard 
of Missouri university announced today the results of three 
years' experiments on a state horticultural farm in the 
cultivation of Ginseng. The experiments have already 
demonstrated that any farmer in Missouri, or in any state 
in this section of the country, may, with only $5.00 or 
$10.00, start a Ginseng farm that may mean a fortune. 

Prof. Howard said today: 

*'A Gmseng farm may be put on a paying basis in 
two or three years, and so far as cultivation goes, very 
little of it is required. Our experiments here have proved 
clearly that a Ginseng farm may be started at an expense 



— 33 — 




Dried Ginseng root ready for market. 



— 34 — 

of only $5, on a plot of ground only 25 feet square. 

*'The first essential is shade, as a moist soil is required. 
The shady side of any farmhouse will do for the purpose. 
Previous to our experiments here, I believed with others 
that a leaf-mold soil was essential. But our experiments 
have proved conclusively, that a leaf mold soil is not 
essential, and that Ginseng of the very best quality may 
be grown on ordinary garden soil. ^<One of the most 
important conclusions was that where roots were planted 
in stiff clay soil, they were unable to penetrate, and 
required at least five years for any noticeable increase in 
growth. We found further, that if while setting out the 
plants the roots became twisted, or in any other way 
turned aside from their natural direction, the growth will 
be checked, even in good soil. 

"We also found, that plants from 4 to 5 years old 
will produce annually from forty to fifty seeds each. 
These seeds may be sold at from 2 to 5 cents apiece. 
I would advise planting the root, provided that it is of the 
1-year variety. The roots for planting will cost from 7 
to 15 cents each. If a 1 -year-old root is planted in the 
spring of 1904, it should in the summer of 1906 yield a 
crop of from twentyfive to forty seeds from each plant. If » 
in the first place, seed were used for planting instead o^ 
the root, they would require at least eighteen months to 
germinate. 

*'One disadvantage is that the roots during the drying 
process, lose two.thirds their weight. When sold at dry 
weight they bring from 40 to 50 cents per ounce. The 



— 35 — 

roots must be 4 or 5 years old before they are sufficiently 
firm to be placed on the market. Dry ginseng roots of 
good quality may be sold in St. Louii, New York and 
other places for from $6 to $8 per pound. 

' *There is no reason why the farmers in this section 
of the country should not realize good profits from the 
ginseng business." 

Those who have ginseng stock for sale realize the fac* 
that the United States will have to grow an enormous 
amount of ginseng before markets would be affected to 
any appreciable extent, and know also, that there wil^ 
always be a market for ginseng and are not alarmed 
aboutanover.production of this commodity. Andthen,too, 
the American people more than any other race, believe in 
the maxim of live and let live, as is evidenced by our 
establishing governmental experiment stations for the 
express purpose of learning new ways and discovering new 
enterprises. The ginseng business is destined to become 
a national business and a regular trade in export and at 
home. We have investigated to our satisfaction and do 
uot hesitate to recommend the cultivation of ginseng to« 
the people and fully believe if properly cared for, one 
engaging in this business will be able to reap a great 
profit for his expenditure of money and labor." 



— 36 — 

Dont Bny Japanese Stock. 

There has been considerable talk of the species of 
of Japanese Ginseng, a few seeds of which were imported 
into this country some years ago by some one, whothought 
to fool the Chinese, but it is like to fool the cow by offer- 
ing her sawdust instead of bran. Chinese are as expert in 
detecting the difference between the genuine American 
Ginseng and the Japanese plant as our doctors are in 
distinguishing the quinine and calomel, so it is useless to 
to palm off the Japanese plant for the genuine American 
Ginseng. We think beginners in this business should buy 
only of persons or companies whose business integrity is 
unquestioned and take no chances of going wrong. Even 
though you should get it cheaper, you would be the loser, 
for there is no sale for it, and your time, energy and 
money would be wasted. Ginseng is too expensive to take 
any chances in something that may prove worthless in the 
end. Beware of cheap Ginseng seeds or plants. The 
American Ginseng is not cheap by any means and is not 
lively to became cheap for years to come, as is indicated 
by the ever increasing demand and the decreasing supply^ 



Medical Proprieties of American 
G-inseng. 

In this country Ginseng is considered of little medical 
value. The root is mildly aeromatic and slightly stimulant. 
The Chinese and Koreans, however, place a high value on 
it, and indeed, regard it as a panacea. Father Jartoux, 
while making a map of Tartary under the orders of the 
Emperor of China, spent some time in Manchuria, where 
the most valued Ginseng grows. The following is his 
description of uses to which the Chinese put this root: 

' 'They affirm that it is a sovereign remedy for all 
weaknesses occasioned by excessive fatigues either of body 
or mind; that it dissolves pitutous humors; that it cures 
weakness of the lungs and the pleurisy; that it stops 
vomiting; that it strengthens the stomach and helps the 
appetite; that it disperses fumes or vapors; that it fortifies 
the breast, and is a remedy for short and weak breathing; 
that it strengthens the vital spirits, and increases lymph 
in the blood; in short, that it is good against dizziness of 
the head and dimness of sight, and that it prolongs life 
in old age." 

Dr. F. P. Smith, a medical missionary of recent 
times, makes the following statement: 

"This drug is prepared as an extract, or a decoction, 
in silver vessels as a rule. Its affects are apparently those 
of an alterative tonic, stimulant, carminative, and demul. 
cent nature. It is prescribed in almost every deseription 
of disease of a severe character, with a few exceptions, but 



— 38 — 

with many reservations as to the stage of the disease 
in which it may be administered with the greatest benefit 
and safety. All forms of debility, the asthenic hemorr- 
hages, the various forms of severe dyspepsia, the persiitent 
vomiting of pergnant women, malarious affections of 
chronic character, the typhoid stages of fever, especially 
of an epidemic character, are occasions on which the 
Chinese resort to this drug. Several cases in which life 
would seem to have been at least prolonged by the taking 
of doses of this drug, so as to allow of intelligent disposit- 
ion of property, indicate that some positive efficacy of a 
sustaining character does really exist in this species of 
ivywort. The leaves are sold in bundles of the green, 
fragrant, excellently preservative foliage of the shrub. 
They are said to be emeticand expectorant in their efforts." 



— 39 — 

A Pleasant Occupation. 

Viewed from every quarter, there is no reason why cul- 
tivation of ginseng should be considered hazardous, more than 
any enterprise in which you invest money is hazardous. 
It will require some care to produce the best results, but 
so does everything else. Take live stock, for instance. 
Would you buy a bunch of hogs, put them in a pen, pro- 
vide them no food or shelter and expect them to grow, 
develope and become top-of-the market pork? No, we 
think not. Yet, with the proper care, pigs become hogs, 
and not infrequently the "runt", or apparently worthless 
member of the litter, becomes a fine specimen as the result 
of special care. Apply the same principle to the cultivation 
of ginseng and you'll win success. Cultivating ginseng i^ 
a pleasant as well as a profitable occupation. 



40 



Digging and Drying G-inseng. 

After ginseng is grown to a marketable size the next 
thing is the digging. A strong spading fork is the thing 
to use when grown in beds. Ginseng is no more difficult 
to dig than parsnips and is dug in the same way. After 
digging the tops should be cut off with a sharp knife, the 
bud should be removed with the top as there is little 
virrue in the bud portion of the plant. Some who gather 
wild ginseng twist off the tops leaving the bud on, but 
the buyer will dock enough on the weight to more than 
make up for the extra weight that the bud would give. It 
should be washed clean and the water dried off. 

Some dry it in the sun or by the natural dryness of 
the atmosphere, while this is affective it will give the 
roots a dark color. 

The best way to dry ginseng is with a fruit evaparator 
run at a low temperature, as a finish there should be a 
little sulphur used the same as for finishing fruit on the 
evaporator. This will impart a light yellow color to the 
roots so much desired in high class ginseng, this is the 
color of the high priced ginseng raised in the Imperial 
gardens. Before drying the fibrous roots should be trimmed 
off as well as the extreme tip, only roots the size of a lead 
pencil are salable at any considerable price. After the 
ginseng is dry enough to powder it should be sorted into 
bundles of 5 pounds weight and wrapped in waxed paper 
tied with gaily colored ribbon, if it made attractive to the 
purchaser by neat showy packages it will bring higher 
prices. 



— 41 — 

The old way was to send it to the exporter in gunny 
sacks, he sorted it and made several grades of it. Arrang. 
ments have been made by some of the large growers so that 
ginseng can be packed by the grower, if he knows how 
and sent directly to the Chinese buyers at Hong Kong, 
China, thus giving all profits to the grower, this phase of 
the business is illustrated by the fact of McDowell of 
Joplin, Mo., selling 100 pounds direct to Chinese buyers 
at $12.50 a pound at his own town. The highest price 
that buyers of wild ginseng were wiling to pay was $6 
per pound, in this one fact there is a whole volume of 
meaning to the grower of cultivated ginseng. 



— 42 — 

Laws To Protect Wild G-inseng. 

The growing importance of the ginseng industry ig 
reflected by the laws passed to protect the remnant of 
wild ginseng still growing in the forests of America and 
to regulate the digging. 

Canada has passed a ginseng law as well as West 
Virginia and other states have followed in their footsteps. 

The main object of the text of these laws is to restrain 
both individuals and organized companies who haye 
heretofore run over land where ginseng grows — digging 
indiscriminately all roots and destroying any that might 
be left, thus vast tracts of promising ginseng land were 
devastated and ruined. Now ginseng may only be dug in 
the fall after it has attained the seasons growth, it must 
also be of a certain size, so as not to dig the roots young. 
Persons must get a licence from the county clerk. The 
sale is forbidden when it is out of season. From this it 
will be observed that ginseng is now an important article 
in the horticultural economy of the nations. 



— 43 — 

Future Markets. 

The exports of ginseng from this country are now 
less than a million dollars a year. It has been estimated, 
that the Chinese nation could use $20,000,000 a year 
worth of the product, it would take some 8000 acres to 
produce this amount under cultivation and as it takes 5 
years to raise a crop it will require to supply this demand 
40,000 acres as it will doubtless be raised in patches not 
to exceed the average of one fourth of an acre, 160,000 
persons may engage in its cultivation without glutting 
the market. 

Perhaps a recapitulation of the requisites for raising- 
ginseng will be acceptable to the reader. 

First and formost the soil must be right either 
naturally or by preparation, that is it must be full of 
humus, moist but not wet. 

Second: It must have shade either natural or artificial. 

Third: If seed is planted it will not sprout [except 
a few seeds] for 18 months after it is grown, that is the 
second spring. 

Fourth: The seed must be kept moist all these 

18 months. 

Fifth: There must be enough space given between 

the plants to develop good sized plants. 

Sixth: The ground must not be trodden while the 

plants are growing, hence the necessity of growing it 

in beds. 

Seventh : The plants must be kept growing and to 

get the best results must be stimulated by artificial 



— 44 — 

fertilizers, care must be taken not to apply these too freely 
so as to burn the plants. 

Ninth: Great care and skill is needed in drying and 
packing the roots to get the highest price. 

Tenth: Send direct to Chinese dealers so as to get 
all the profits, hitherto the middle men have reaped the 
largest profits. 

Eleventh: The ginseng industry has as solid a basis 
for success as the growing of tobacco as the demand of a 
nation of 400,000,000 is in a way as acute for ginseng as 
the demand of the American people for tobacco. 



New Facts About Ginseng. 

We do not know to a certainity, whether the Chinese 

knew that it took 5 years to grow a marketable ginseng 

root from the seed. 

We presume the astute mandarins have long known 

the secret of its life history and have kept it carefully 

concealed from the world. 

Wild ginseng was dug in the American forests more 
than 100 years before there was a suspicion that it took 
more than two years [the normal period of 5 years] and the 
normal period of perennial herbs is also two years 
for maturity. 

It was only in the last decade, that those attempting 
to grow it from the seed found out the long period, that 
it took to grow a marketable root. Those who saved the 
first seed and planted it were disappointed that it did not 
mature the first year from planting the seed, as the seed 
did not come they abandoned the bed and thought no 
more of it. They were very much surprised the second 
summer to find the plants coming up plentifully in last 
years bed. This showed them the secret of the length of 
the incubation of period ginseng seed. 

Another surprise awaited them the second year when 
the second year after sprouting in the fall,they try digging 
the roots and found them too small for any commercial 
use, they left them another year and still they were hardly 
as large as the best wild roots, still another year they 
waited and were rewarded by finding large handsome 
roots, on the whole better than the wild. 



— 46 — 

Further experience showed that ginseng will continue 
to grow in some cases for to years, but the roots at this 
age become so woody and spungy that they are of no 
medicinal value. Up to 6 years old they are as good as 
when younger and continue up to this time to improve in 
every respect. 

Conversing with the diggers of wild ginseng root, 
some of whom have dug it for 20 years, they say that 
they or any diggers with whom they were acquainted had 
a suspicion of the length of time it took to grow ginseng, 
and now all they know about it comes from the experience 
of thoie who have cultivated it. 

Now that the secrets of growing ginseng have been 
found, man can by his knowledge improve over natur^ 
and immensely increase the production by causing most 
of the seeds to grow. By putting them in the right soil; 
by giving shade and irrigation when necessary; by 
fertilifers to stimulate its growth and increases the weight 
of the roots. 

The growing of ginseng is one of the most fascinating 
occupations, all of its possibilities have by no means been 
developed. 

This can be done by the selection of seed; by the cross 
pollenization of the flowers when in bloom, in this way its 
size and quality may be improved. The two year period 
for the sprouting may be reduced to one year by taking 
the seed from the few plants that come up the first year, 
a few will sprout the first year. Save the seed and plant 
it for a series of years and a strain may be created that 



— 47 — 

<5an be depended on to sprout the first spring, in this way 
one year may be clipped off the time now required. 

When this is done save the seed from the largest and 
most thrifty plants — doing thiH for a series of years may 
produce a plant that can be dug the fourth year from the 
seed and perhaps the ginseng period of maturity may be 
reduced to 3 years thus accomplishing as much in this 
period as is now done in 5 years. 



— 48 — 

The Diseases of Ginseng. 

The growing importance of ginseng as a staple crop 
is shown by the issue of a Bulletin, by the Cornell Experi. 
ment Station, treating of the diseases of ginseng. 

The buletin begins by saying. "The success of 
growing ginseng in this country seems remarkable, when 
we consider how recent the business is how little we know 
about the culture of the plant." 

The bulletin goes on to enumerate 6 distinct diseases 
that are known to have attacked ginseng among cultivated 
plants. 

The first of these is wilt, that principaly attacks old 
plants that are kept for seed and have passed their 
prime as markatable roots. If these had been dug at 
maturity, there would have been no trouble. 

Another phase of the wilt has been found in seedling 
plants, in beds that had been too freely watered precisely 
the same way that cabbage and tomato plants "damp off" 
in hotbeds. 

The causes of this wilt is infection from the fungus 
of plants affected with the disease and there is no evidence 
to show that under proper precautions the disease may not 
be controlled and stamped out. The same precautions 
taken with the ginseng seedlings that would be taken with 
other bed plants will prevent the disease. 

The second disease affecting ginseng noticed is called 
end rot, but this disease is so rare and caused by purely 
local conditions, that no notice need be taken of it. 



— 49 — 





Youag Ginseng plants breaking through the grottttiL 



— 50 — 

The third disease is really an insect and should rather 
be treated under the head of entomology than plant disease. 
This insect is a small centipede about three fourths of an 
inch long that under certain conditions preys on ginseng. 
These worms are called ''Millipedes". They also attack 
many other plants and cannot be considered peculiar 
to ginseng. 

The fourth disease is caused by '^Nematodes" or root 
galls. This disease occurs only in the gulf states, where 
the ground does not freeze in the winter, freezing is said 
to be a sure remedy for the pest. So all through the great 
central belt of the country there need be no fear from it. 
When it does occur it will be where the ground is pro- 
tected with mulch and does not freeze. These same galls 
get on parsnips, tomatoes, asters and chrysanthemums 
and are as little likely to damage ginseng as the plants 
named. 

No. Five is black rot and is comunicated to damaged 
and bruised roots, the roots may have been damaged when 
taken up for transplanting, so there should be great care 
excercised in handling seedling roots. 

The Sixth and last disease is what is called leaf spot. 
Spraying with bordeaux mixture will stop this disease. 

Cut worms and stem borers are mentioned as insect 
enemies of ginseng, these are also enemies of a long list 
of plants and we have no plant or vegetable that does not 
have insect enemies. 

The strawberry has a dozen insect and fungus enemies, 
yet our markets are flooded every year with strawberries. 

Several fungus diseases have attacked the sugar beet 



— 51 — 

An some instances ruining large fields, yet the acreage and 
tonnage of sugar beets steadily increases and they will 
continue to raise both strawberries and sugar beets with 
profits to the grower. So it will be with ginseng, the 
production will increase and also the demand in spite of a 
few diseases and fungus growths developed under unfavor- 
able conditions. 

The growers of ginseng owe Prof. Bailey of Cornell 
a debt of gratitude for his experiments and the showing of 
the conditions under which the diseases enumerated are 
developed. They can then avoid these conditions in 
growing ginseng. 

They should be rather encouraged than discouraged 
by the contents of this pamphlet. I would advise every 
grower or prospective grower of ginseng, to send for a 
copy of this Bulletin to Cornell Experiment Station 
Ithaca, N. Y. inclose a stamp for postage the Bulletin 
is free. 



— 52 — 

Location of G-inseng Plat. 

The succesful growing of ginseng largely depends on 
the location of the plat. 

There are two classes of people who will go into the 
raising of ginseng. The small farmer, the truck grower 
and the owner of one or more town lots. 

Prof. Bailey says of the latter class *'one of the worst 
instances of the ^<wilt disease" was on a plat of land in 
town — entirely surrounded by buildings. In this case 
the air was close impure and to a great extent had been 
deprived of oxygen. 

Ginseng could no more thrive under these conditions 
than a native of the mountains — the home of ginseng, 
could thrive if taken from his native home and closely 
confined in one of the large manufacturies of the city* 

A lesson to learn from Prof. Baileys researches is the 
importance of perfect drainage in growing ginseng. He 
has given instances where ginseng plats became diseased 
from imperfect drainage. He says in substance that in a 
plantation of 6000 plants 72 plants were affected with the 
**Nematode" disease, the soil in the beds was packed 
hard, the beds were raised 4 inches above the alleys. 
Summing up on this case he dwells on the importance of 
keeping the soil of the beds light by the presence of 
humus and frequent cultivation, the subsoil should be 
loose and in claey land the soil should be lightened by 
sand or coal ashes. 

Prof. Howard of the Missouri State University found; 



— 53 — 

tliat ginseng plants on claey ground did not perceptibly 
inerease in size in 5 years. Where the soil is compact a 
large amount of vegetable humus should be applied to 
the soil. 

Any town lot or farmers back yard has materials for 
making a humus pile. Gather all the leaves of fruit and 
shade trees, all waste straw and hay weeds and vegetable 
tops. This pile should be kept moist by the use of the 
wash water, chamber slops and all the water that would 
naturally go into the kitchen drain. Such a humus pile 
will furnish enough humus for a large bed of ginseng. 



— 54 — 

Fertilizers. 

Ginseng naturally grows in a soil containing a large- 
amount of humus and considerable potash. The largest 
ginseng plant that a life long gatherer of ginseng ever 
saw grew in an old hollow stump, it was fully 30 inches 
high and had a giant root. This giant fed on the leaves 
that had decayed and fallen into the hollow, the stump 
had rotted and sloughed off giving more humus besides a 
supply of potash. 

AH ginseng plants cannot have as favorable surround- 
ings as the plant in the stump, but it shows the ideal 
condition for large and perfect growth. All fertilizers 
should be either vegetable or commercial. 

Stable manure is not suitable for a ginseng fertilizer 
jf it is anyway fresh it will bring fungus diseases to the 
plant. When it is thoroughly decomposed it may De 
applied sparingly to ginseng but even then there is danger 
that some disease may lurk in it. The natural fertilizer 
for ginseng is leaf mould. There are many ways of getting 
humus from green crops, the best is clover turned under 
while green, cow peas and velvet beans may be used for 
the same purpose. 

Ginseng responds readily to commercial fertilizers. 
Nitrate of soda, although costly will be found one of the 
bcrit, it should be mixed with 10 times its volume of road 
dust or sifted ashes. 

The fertilifers made by the packing house fromanimal 
tissue and blood are suitable. When the soil is short in phos- 
phates ground rock phosahate is indicated. All commercial 
fertilizers should be used in connection with humus. 



55 



Will The Demand For 
Q-inseng Continue. 

This question has been partly answered in an earlier 
chapter. At the present time there seems a disposition on 
the part of some leading horticulturists to discourage the 
cultivation of ginseng. First they intimate that it cannot 
be grown with a profit by cultivation, and in the next 
paragraph endeavor to show, that there will be no market 
for it when grown. 

The object of this little book is not to advertise the 
growers of plants and seed but to make a fair statement of 
the present status of the business. For 7 months I have 
been gathering data for its publication. 

If a fair understanding of its needs are understood it 
can be as easily raised as many other crops. 

Ginseng grows in a wild state from Canada to Florida 
from the Missouri to the Atlantic. A plant that flourishes 
in the wild state over so vast an area can be and has been 
successfully cultivated over the same area. But this is a 
digression I will get back to the matter in hand. One 
distinguished horticulturist lately wrote <*The 400,000,000 
of China will be so enlightened that they will cease to use 
ginseng. This man may know much about trees, fruits 
and flowers, but that he knows little or nothing about 
Chinese character will be shown by an extract from the 
writings of Dr. Arthur Smith who has spent a life time as 
a missionary in close contact with the Chinese, writing of 
their conversation he says: **The trait of the Chinese 

LofC. 



— 56 — 

included under the term conservatism, is the instinctive 
effort to k^ep and retain the mighty past intact. 

Confucius was the one of the ancients who most 
effectively determined the keynote of the past thought and 
the life of the race and it was done for by the reverence 
and admiration for the ancients and by a struggle at all 
costs to imitate and perpetuate them in the mode of life, 
customs and thought. 

The Chinese are a persistent exception to the law of 
nations — "that they must either advance or die," they 
Lave gone on their way the same unchanged and unchange- 
able people that they were 2000 years ago. Civilization 
lias bumped up against them for the last 2 centuries and 
left little impression. They have a history of untold 
centuries behind them, and history gives not the date 
when they used ginseng. 

Considering the unchangable habits and the very 
slight impression that the outside world has made on them 
it is fair to assume that the general use of ginseng will 
continue for a few venerations lono^er. 



Cultivation Improves The Quality- 

The cultivation of ginseng improves the quality in 
the same ratio that wild flowers are improved under culti- 
vation. It is a far call from the wild paeon y to the 
glorious ''Festiva Maxima". 

The improved quality of ginseng will make it still 
more attractive to the Chinaman, its use will doubtless 
increase. 

I think I have already alluded to the use of ginseng 
by Chinese families. Mrs. Jung Toy of St. Louis says that 
it is an article of everyday use in our families and has 
been for countless generations in the past. With the 
greater prosperity of the Chinese they will buy more 
ginseng. 

As the use of tobacco is to the American so is the 
use of ginseng to the Chinese. Does the most stalwart 
reformer look for an elimination of tobacco from the 
the daily life of Americans, when the American ceases to 
use tobacco then will the Chinese cease to use ginseng. 
The adverse criticisms that are going the rounds about 
ginseng are rather a matter of opinion^ than the result of 
patient and personal investigation. 

I have stated that not every one will succeed in 
raising ginseng and I dont know of any crop, that is 
raised that does score fail ares for some engaged in pro- 
ducing it. 

Take the nursery business. Sometime a whole con- 
signment of seedling trees will perish in spite of the 



— 58 — 

intelligent efforts of the proprietor to prevent it. The tree* 
of an orchardist may be clothed in glowing bloom — one 
night the thermometer goes below the freezing point and 
when the sun rises the next day a blackened pall is spread 
over the erstwhile loveliness. Cold, stiff and dead are the 
blooms of yesterday and also the hopes of profit for 
the year. 

Miles on miles of beautiful wheat fields are waving in 
the gentle breeze of the prairies, the husbandman counts^ 
his profit sure, one or two hot days intervene and a fog^ 
spreads over the fields carrying in its wake the fatal black 
rust and the wheat is never cut. 

There will be some failures in growing ginsengs 
but for the person who perservers there is a great reward 
a possibility of harvesting $50,000 from one acre of 

ground. 

But if you only make |1 0,000 from an acre, where is- 
the crop that will match it. 

The length of time that it takes to realize from a 
crop of ginseng has been mentioned as an objection to 
raising it. The man who plants a fruit tree waits from 4 
to 10 years to get returns and realize of his investment 
yet fruit is raised in increasing quantities. 

The advocates of Forestry urge all farmers to plant 
forest trees and on a large scale this planting will take a 
generation for cash results — I say Amen to thii, let the 
good work go on" may their tribes increase." 



— 59 — 

In view of the time it requires to realize on forest 
planting is it not inconsistent to object to the four or five 
years that it takes to realize on a ginseng investment. It 
will be a remarkable acre of forest trees that pays $1000 
in a generation. It will be a very poor acre of s^inseng 
that does not bring $100,000 in that time. 



'05 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




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